Game Night – Kingsburg

Kingsburg

Designer: Andrea Chiarvesio, Luca Iennaco
Manufacturers: Fantasy Flight Games
Artists: Mad4Gamestyle
Year: 2008
Players: 2 – 5
Time: 90 minutes
Ages: 10 and up

David got this fantasy-themed game for Christmas and since then, we’ve played it several times. It takes place in the realm of Kingsburg, which is under attack! Invaders, dragons, zombies, demons, are gathering at the borders, aiming to invade and plunder the realm! The king has chosen governors (the players) to take charge of provinces: each will manage their province and help defend the realm. Governors must influence the King’s Advisers and the Royal Family to obtain gold, wood, stones, and soldiers to expand and defend their lands.

The goal ultimately, is to earn victory points by building buildings, influencing advisers and defeating the enemy. In the end, only one Governor will earn the King’s rewards.

The game is played in five years (rounds), each consisting of 3 productive seasons, spring, summer, and fall, and then the enemy attacks each winter. There is a lot of dice-rolling, so at times it can seem like you’re doing poorly because of the dice, but really it seems to even itself out fairly well. There is strategy involved: who will you influence, what buildings will you build, but it’s a light game. The rules are straightforward and easy to learn. The play doesn’t drag on, as long as the players can make decisions and just stick by them (not always a strong trait in our group).

This one is worth the money. I see us playing it a lot and it’s an easy one to teach to new players.  There is an expansion out, To Forge a Realm, that I’d like to pick up sometime, but there’s no rush. It’s a fun game as is.

Our copy was purchased and the above is my honest opinion. I am an Amazon and Funagain Games associate.